Printer device and method

1. A method of printing an image with an inkjet printer system, said system comprising a printhead arranged to print swaths of image content parallel to a first axis on a print medium, said swaths having a width in a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said method comprising the steps of: determining the length of said image in said second axis; resizing said image such that said resized length of said image in said second axis is substantially an integer multiple of said swath width; scanning said image prior to the step of determining said length of said image in said second axis; and differentiating between said scanned image data and the background of the scanned area and carrying out the steps of determining said length of said image in said second axis and resizing said image in respect of said scanned image data.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said resized image is printed using a one pass, or a two pass, or a three pass, or a four pass printmode.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said resized image is printed using a bi-directional printmode.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said resized image is printed using uni-directional printmode.

5. A method of printing an image with an inkjet printer system, said system comprising a printhead arranged to print swaths of image content parallel to a first axis on a print medium, said swaths having a width in a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said method comprising the steps of: determining the length of said image in said second axis; and, resizing said image such that said resized length of said image in said second axis is substantially an integer multiple of said swath width, wherein the resizing step reduces said image by a predetermined proportion.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein said image is resized in both said first and second axes.

7. A method according to claim 6 , further comprising the steps of estimating the printing time for printing one or more said resized images and estimating the printing time for printing one or more non-resized said images.

8. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of outputting said estimated print times to a user and printing said one or more resized images or said one or more non-resized images in dependence upon a user selection.

9. A method of printing an image with an inkjet printer system, said system comprising a printhead arranged to print swaths of image content parallel to a first axis on a print medium, said swaths having a width in a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said method comprising the steps of: determining the length of said image in said second axis; and, resizing said image such that said resized length of said image in said second axis is substantially an integer multiple of said swath width, wherein a degree to which said image is resized, and an axis in which said image is resized, is selected by the user of said system.

10. A method of printing an image with an inkjet printer system, said system comprising a printhead arranged to print swaths of image content parallel to a first axis on a print medium, said swaths having a width in a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said method comprising the steps of: determining the length of said image in said second axis; and, resizing said image such that said resized length of said image in said second axis is substantially an integer multiple of said swath width, wherein the steps of determining said length of said image in said second axis and resizing said image are carried out by a processor associated with a printer device associated with said system.

11. A method of printing an image with an inkjet printer system, said system comprising a printhead arranged to print swaths of image content parallel to a first axis on print medium, said swaths having a width in a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said method comprising the steps of: determining the length of said image in said second axis; and, resizing said image such that said resized length of said image in said second axis is substantially an integer multiple of said swath width, wherein the steps of determining said length of said image in said second axis and resizing said image are carried out by a processor associated with a host device associated with said system.

12. An inkjet printer system comprising an associated host device, such as a personal computer, and an inkjet printer device comprising a printhead being arranged to print swaths of image content on a print medium in a first direction, said swaths having a width in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said printer system being arranged to resize an image prior to printing such that the dimension of said image in said second direction is substantially an integer multiple of said swath width, wherein said associated host device comprises a printer driver arranged to resize said image.

13. An inkjet printer system comprising an associated host device, such as a personal computer, and an inkjet printer device comprising a printhead being arranged to print swaths of image content on a print medium in a first direction, said swaths having a width in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said printer system being arranged to resize an image prior to printing such that the dimension of said image in said second direction is substantially an integer multiple of said swath width, wherein said associated host device is arranged to run a software application arranged to resize said image.